SOC Hall of Fame - Lesson 03 - Effects of Out of League Games

Teams competing on a number of different fronts are a tricky proposition for daily fantasy soccer players. This is especially prevalent in the Premier League. Throughout the season, one of the Champions League, Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup will be taking place and squad rotation has to be taken into consideration. The starting lineups and substitute benches picked by each manager are constantly changing and keeping an eye on all this is key to topping contests.

Starting Lineups

Any team that has a European game or Cup match in the week before or after a Premier League game will make changes to the starting lineup. A lot depends on how strong the league opponent is and the stage that the out of league competition is at. Champions League games are usually the priority for club managers due to the fact they are the pinnacle of world club soccer and pit the very best teams against each other. It’s crucial, then, to check the lineups when they are announced an hour before kick off so that you can remove any players that aren’t playing.

Even if a player is named on the bench, you’re more than welcome to keep him in your lineup as the phenomenon of the super-sub in soccer means that players, on the odd occasion, do come off the bench and make a big impact. This is a high risk strategy yet the pay off will be a big one, especially in tournament play, as less fantasy players will pick players that are benched.

Finding value

Out of league games also throw up plenty of value for daily fantasy managers as many of those players used in league games will be cheaper by virtue of the fact there is little or no form to judge them on. Backup strikers are often preferred to star strikers for league games, especially if the team needs to qualify for the knockout stage, and the chance to pick up cheap points here is high. Teams usually simply slot the same striker into an existing system and if the same pieces remain, the chance of a goal is elevated. This strategy can also be used in Champions League contests when a team has already qualified for the knockout stages.

Subs and Rest

European soccer’s packed schedule makes sure that squads are far bigger than they ever were and it means that some players don’t spend anywhere as much time on the pitch. This is especially the case when out of league games are being played. When a Champions League clash is taking place in the middle of the week, expect the number one striker to be replaced at an earlier stage, especially if the game has already been won. If a player isn’t on the pitch he won’t be scoring you points. It’s as simple as that.